St. Louis County Council

Attorneys for Page had argued that the wording of the indictment meant their client could not be certain what conduct prosecutors considered criminal acts.

Members of the St. Louis County Council say the reductions more accurately reflect what departments spent in 2025 and will not harm services.

The council’s plan eliminates more than 300 positions that had been vacant for 12 months or more. Out-of-town travel and training are also off the table for 2026.

Only about $56 million of the $159 million in funding for the county has been allocated to projects so far.

The Bel-Nor Democrat spoke about the county’s budget problems and an uproar over the county animal shelter on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

The council voted 6 to 1 to express no confidence in Kanika Cunningham’s leadership of the county animal shelter.

A report from the council’s ethics committee accuses Dr. Kanika Cunningham of mismanaging the shelter and recommends that a vote of no confidence be held.

The Democratic county executive is facing charges related to a mailer sent out regarding Proposition B, which would have allowed the county council to fire his department heads.

All four Democrats on the council, along with Republican Dennis Hancock, voted against the resolution.

The Democratic official is accused of illegally using county funds to campaign against a measure that would have given the St. Louis County Council the power to dismiss department heads.